Automatic phonograph



April 16, 1929. v, sEYMER 1,709,748

AUTOMATIC} PHONOGRAPH Filed March 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Shet 1 April 16, 1929. v. H. sEYMER AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets- Sheet Filed March 5, 1923 April 16, 1929. v.14. SEYMER AUTOMATIC rHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets$heet Filed March 5, 1923 P 16, 1929- v. H.' SEYMER 1,709,748

AUTOMATI C PHONOGRAPH Filed March 5, 1925 I s Sheets-Sheet 4 WWW -%r w I April 16, 1929. VQH SEYMER 1 1,709,748

AUTOMATIC PH ONOGRAPH Filed March 5, 1925 5 Sheets-She'it //zmg/ Wrn% Patented Apr. 16, 192 9.

PATENT were VIVIAN HOME s'ErMEn, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

'Au'roMArIo PHONOGRAPH.

Application filed March 5, 1923, Serial No. 622,943, and in Great Britain March '11, 1922.

This invention relates to automatic phonographs, and it has for its object to enable such machines to operate continuously for a considerable period of time, playing a series of records automatically and without requiringany attention once the mechanism has been set into motion. The recent introduction of gramophone needles capable of being used upon a considerable number of records without detriment thereto renders it possible to eliminate the necessity for frequently changing the needle.

The invention accordingly comprises means for manipulating the records and also certain elements of the playingmechanism whereby a selected number of records are deposited in succession upon a gramophone turn-table, one side if the record is of the single-sided type and ,on both sides if it is of the doublesided type. each record being removed after completion of its playing contents; the whole cycle of. operations being performed automatically.

The control of the apparatus for carrying out this method may be effected mechanically, electrically, or pneumatically, or by any combination thereof.

The gramophone is provided with or connected to means for rotating the turn-table continuously or for as long as desired, and there is arranged, adjacent to the instrument, a container for the records to be played which container is so formed and controlled that ly, and, if it is a double-sidedrecord, reverse it and replace. it upon the turn-table and then 3 transfer it to a second container for used rec ords. If so desired, a single container for unused and'used records may be employed.

This containeror hopper for the records to be played may be formed with shelves or equiva-v lent supports for the records, which supports may be inclined at such an angle that the areplayed by the instrument, on

it will deliver one record at atime to the inrecords are vcapable of sliding freely therefrom in turn as the front of each support is brought to a predetermined position by convenient means to elevate thecontainer or hopperintermittently; and other inclined shelves may be provided on to which used records also slide. a

The carrier device to receive each record as discharged from the container and to manipulate it before and after it'is played may be' mounted adjacent to the gramophone turntable upon a vertical spindle which is moved angularlyat predetermined intervals whereby to move or oscillate the carrier device in order to effect the requsite cycle said spindle also being adjustable axially intermittently in order to position the carrier device.

The angular movement of said spindle may be produced mechanically, or otherwise; and upward and downward axial displacement of said spindle and its associated parts may similarly be efiected'mechanically; the means for producing the required movements being synchronously connected to a common operating mechanism.

The carrier to receive the records is mountedat or near the upper end of said angularly and axially movable spindle andmay consist of a curved or forked arm arranged horizon- I tally and formed orprovided with holders to support a record when delivered thereto;

These holders which are adaptedto'receive the margins of the records may be pivoted to said curved or forked arm so that they are capable of angular movement relatively thereto in order that they may be presented at the required inclination to receive a record from or deliver it to the container or ho'pper of operations,

and also inorderthat double-sided records may be reversed by means wh1ch' may be provided for that purpose;

Suitable mechanism maybe provided so as to co-act with these pivoted record holders in order to effect their inclination or rotation as may be required.

Provision is made for. removing the needle from contact with the record at the conc'lusion of a piece and also forswinging the tonearm (and with itithe sound box; and needle) outwardly soas to position the needle inreadv v iness to commence playing the next succeeding record; and means are also provided for controlling the descent of the needle on to a record to be played.

The angular movement of t e tone-arm towards the centre of the recor is utilized to control the mechanisms for effecting the manipulation of the records, that is, such mechanisms are caused automatically to commence to function directly after the tone arm becomes stationary.

By way of example only, a mechanical ar rangement for carrying the invention into practical effect is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are partially diagrammatic and which omit, for the sake of clearness, to show several portions of the instrument, its casing and framing.

Figure l is a side view of the apparatus, omitting part of the mechanism, the casing, certain portions of the framework and other non-essential features of construction, and

showin the hopper more or less diagram- -matica y.

' Figure 2 1s a plan view, non-essential features again being omitted and the record manipulating device being, for the sake of clearness, shown opposite the record hopper instead of above the turntable.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2 .,-Fig 3, on an enlarged scale of the preferred clutch mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line .2"2", Fig. 2", of the same clutch mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side view of a lever shown in plan view in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tone arm and turntable and of certain mechanism associated' therewith. i

Figure 4 is a detail view, in plan, ofthe 1 tone arm and a portion of the, record manip-' nlating device indicating co-action therebetween' for a purpose referred to hereafter.

Figure 4 1s a detail sectional elevation on line 4*4- of Fig. 4 of the latch stop and the su port. r a Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken on differential gearing controlled by the tone arm. Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, 1 is the usual turntable mounted on a spindle 2 driven continuously by means not shown and.

having a pulley 3 mounted thereon around which a belt 4 passes to and over a pulley'5 keyed to a clutch-spindle 6 upon which is carried loosely a. single reducing-gear pinion 6', operable by clutch mechanism to-be described and which meshes with a pinion 6 carried by the primary spindle 7.

This primary operating spindle 7 serves to impart the requisite motions to the recordmanipulating mechanism, sitioning of the needle, and also to effect the desired adjustments of a hopper containing and receiving the records; all of which functions are accomplished by means to be hereafter described.

The entire cycle of operations governed by the spindle 7 is controlled by the movement of the tone arm 8 over the surface of the record being played, and this iseifected by into control the po-.v

terposing between the spindle 7 and tone arm 8 the following mechanism.

Solid with "the tone arm 8 is an arm 9 at right angles thereto and disposed in a horizontal plane, which arm 9 terminates in a toothed sector 10 engaging a pinion 11 that forms one element of a differential gear the function of which is to control the operation of the aforesaid clutch mechanism,

Referring to Figures 2'. and 2", the clutch spindle 6 passes through a clutch mechanism constructed as follows:

. An inner clutch member 6 is keyed to the member 6 is an outer clutch member or ring 6! fitting loosely over the member '6 but held frictionall in contact therewith by means of a light coi spring 6", which is accommodated within a peripheral groove 6 formed in the '95 spindle 6and therefore rotates constantly with it, and surrounding said inner clutch member 6. 6 is a sleeve arranged loosely on the spindle 6 and terminating in a screwthreaded portion upon which the pinion 6" is secured. The-sleeve 6 is formed with'a recess or slot 6 cut in its periphery, an'din this recess or slot there rides a pawl or detent 6,

the outer end of which enters a slot 6? cut in the periphery of the outer clutch ring6 The deteiit 6"is recessed'at one side'so as to over? lap or loosely embrace the flanged inner clutch member 6.-

This differential gear (see also Figure8) comprises the pinion 11 which rotates solidly rim'ofthe" in one direction with a pinion 12', both being mounted fie'ely upon a non-rotatablespindle 13 carried by afixed bracket 14. Above the pinion 11 is an. arm 15 solid therewith and aving-a detent 16 pivoted at the end thereof which detent engages a. ratchet wheel 17 inturnjast with the pinion 12; Below' the pin ion 12 and mounted freely on shaft 13 is a pinion 18 fast with a worm wheel 19 also free on shaft 13. 7 Both the pinions 12yand '18 mesh with a floating pinion 20 carried by'a pin 21 secured on an arm 22 mounted pivotally. on the spindle 13 and having purpose to be described hereafter.-

' The arm 22 also carries a link 25 connected by a pin 26 to a projection formed integral with a latch-arm 27 whereof the nose 28 is adapted to engage a member 29 carried by the clutch ring 6. a

The worm wheel 19 is driven constantly by means of a worm 30 carried by a shaft 31 supported by brackets 32, 33, and driven by a bevel wheel 34 engaging another bevel wheel 34 mounted on the spindle 2 below the turntable 1. I a The records are carried in a hopper 35 which is divided into two series of compartments of opposite inclination, the upper series being inclined downwardly towards the horizontal plane of the turntable and serving to contain those record which are to be played, and the lower series being inclined downwardly away from said horizontal plane and serving to receive records which have been played.

The hopper 35 is carried by a vertical rack pillar 36 capable of being shifted upwards intermittently by means to be hereafter described, and adjacent said hopper 35 there functions the means for manipulating the rec- 'ords.

forked arm 38 and connected to each other by a Semi-circular yoke 40 which has mounted at the middle of its length a roller 41 adapted, when the parts are in the position as shown in i Figure 1, to bear upon a supporting lug 42 on a cam 44, referred to herein, and serving to aline the longer members ofthe record holders 3939, wit-h a record about to be re eased from the hopper 35. The buffer 40 is also carried by the yoke upon the inside opposed to the roller 41 and acts to limit the inward sliding movement of the sound record as it is received between theholdrs 39.

, The holders or combined record guides and clamps39, 39, each consist of a pair of jaws adapted to grip the margins of the records,

from the lower member, as shown in Figure tilting movement.

6 in end view; and said two pairs of jaws are mounted on trunnions 3939 (Figures 2, 4 and 6) extending horizontally inwards from the extremities of the forked arm 38 and are therefore capable of swivelling about their mountings in order.to impart the requisite movements to a record carried by them.

On the spindle 37 and at a short distance below the arm 38 a plate 43 is loosely mounted, in the upper surface of which is formed a cam groove 44, in which rides a roller 45 carried by the uppermember of a bifurcated lever 46, the lower member 46 of which is pivoted at 47 to a lever 48 splined upon and rotatable with the spindle 37 which is vertically slidable through the lever48.

A bracket 48*, adapted to be fi-xed to the casing of the machine or other, support not shown in the drawings, is provided and is furnished with two bosses 48 and 48,

through which passes the spindle 37, and the I lever 48 and plate 43 are mounted between these two bosses. Thus the bracket 48 supports these members.

The periphery of the lowerpart ofthe plate 43 is formed with three notches 49, spaced 120 degrees apart and with which a detent 50 mounted upon the lever 48 is adapted to engage. A second detent 51 mounted upon an arm 48 projecting from the boss 48 of the bracket 48 is also adapted to engage the notches 49 and serves as a non-return'device for the plate 43, which is intermittently rotatable in a clockwise direction only, such movement being effected by the rotation of the shaft 37 which carries with it the lever 48 and the detent 50.

The bifurcated lever 46 has a rearward extension of which the extremity is longitudinally slotted at 52 in which slot there rides a pin 53 carried at one extremity of a horizontal rod 54 sliding in brackets 55, 55, formed on or borne by the forked arm 38 and at its opposite extremity said rod 54 is formed with rack teeth 56 meshing with a pinion 57 keyed upon the trunnion carrying the adjacent pair of jaws 39. H

The function of the cam groove 44 and-its associated mechanism is to impart to thetwo pairs of record holders or clamps 39, which are interconnected by the yoke 40, angular or As has already been stated, the spindle 37 is movable intermittently both angularly and axially, the angular movement being required in order to move the forked arm 38 horizontally between the hopper 35 and the turntable 1 for the purpose of manipulating the records thereto or therefrom, and the axial movement being required for moving the forked arm38 upwardly or downwardly for the purpose of. removing a record from or depositing it. on the turntable.

Intermittent anglilar movement is transmitted'to spindle 37 by means of a cam-operspindle 37.

pillar 36 whereby the hopper is raised inated rack-and-pinion mechanism consisting of a cam plate 58 keyed upon the primary spindle 7 and having formed in it at its undersidc a cam groove 59 in which rides a roller 60 carried on a pin at one extremity of a sliding bar 61 borne by brackets 62, 62, and being formed for a portionof its length with rack teeth (four of which are shown in full lines and the remainder in dotand dashlines) engaging a pinion 63 splincd upon The bar 61 is prolonged and its other extremity is formed at its underside with a step 64 adapted to ride over a roller 65carried at one end of a lever 66 pivoted at 67 to a suitable fixed support and whereof the other end is linked at 68 to a detent 69 engaging the rack teeth on one side of the termitt'ently. An operating handle 0 is pivoted at 71 to detent 69, the latter being anchored by a spring 72 to a member 79? of the machine frame to maintain it normally in engagement with the rack teeth on the pill'ar 36, and in order that the hopper 35 may be lowered by hand, when desired, into the bottom or starting position, said operating handle is pushed toward the detent 69 to move it angularly and disengage it from the pillar 36.

Opposite the upper part of the hopper 35 and supported in a stationary position by a support 73, independently of the hopper 35, there is a fixed lip or guard plate 73 mounted on the main easing of the machine and relatively to which the hopper is moved vertically and which holds back all the records below that one which is to be delivered.

Movement in an axial direction of the spindle 37 is effected from the primary spindle 7 by means of a bevel pinion 74 keyed tospindle 7 and meshing with a second bevel pinion 75 keyed to a horizontal arbour and formed integral with a cam 7 6 upon which rides a roller 77 carried by a lever 8 pivoted at 79 to a fixed point and having its free end forked to engage a grooved collar 80 keyed vto the spindle 37.

The cam 76 is formed peripherally with a comparatively deep indentation into which the roller 77 descends in order toenable the spindle 37 to assume its lowermost position,

and the profile of the remainder of the cam is concentric with its arbour. Rotation of the cam therefore moves the lever 78 angularly and consequently raises or lowers the spindle 37 at the required times.

Near the lower end of the spindle 37 there is keyed a second grooved collar 81 with which the forked end 82' of a pivoted arm 83 engages. The opposite end of this arm 83 is formed with a curved plate 84 (Fig. 5)

which serves as a footstep for a push rod 85 adapted to slide verticall in guides 86 (see Figs. 2 and 4) borne by t 6 tone arm 8 or an extension thereon. The upper extremity of said push rod 85, is connected to the pivoted lever 87 having an internally toothed sector 88 (see Fig. 3) at its extremity engaging with a pinion 89, and serves to impart angular movement to the swan-neck 90 of the tone arm 8 to which neck the pinion 89 is attached. By this means, sound box 91 and with it the needle .92 may be raised from or lowered into contact with a record.

The tone arm 8 is formed with a laterally projecting bracket 93 (Fig. 4) upon which a trip catch or latch-stop 94 (Figure 4) is pivoted which catch or stop is adapted to be contacted with by the forked arm 38 while nioving horizontally to convey a record to the forked arm slightly below the horizontal plane traversed by the latch-stop 94 as the tone-arm'8 moves during the playing of the record, so that the latch-stpp 94 is free to partake of the movement of the tone-arm which carries it over the forked arm 38.

When removing a played record from the turntable, the forked arm 38 rises again (the tone arm 8 having also been moved angularly upward to withdraw the needle from the record) and as it swings toward the hopper 35 contacts with the inclined end of the latchstop 94 and raises said latch stop which then drops back into place by gravity after the arm 38 has passed it.

As has already been stated, the apparatus is designed to enable either sin le-sided or double-sided records to be played and manibe checked at'certain interv'als if the records are single sidedwhercas it is unchecked at such intervals in 'cases where the records are double-sided, as will be apparent hereafter.

In order therefore to obtain this control over the downward axial movement of the spindle 37 a notched selector plate or disc 95 is mounted upon a vertical arbour 96 in such a position that the edge of the disc 95 is located vertically below the foot-of the spindle 37. I

' -Notchcs 97, 98, are formed in pairs-lm-ipherally of the disc 95 and such pairs of uolc ics are separated by solid portions 99 which are adapted to prevent downward axial movemcntxof the spindle 37 at certain predetermined-periods. I

The pairs'of notches permit downward axial movement of the spindle 37 when the disc is rotated to present such notches beneath the spindle; notch 97 functioning when one side of the record for the time being on the turntable is uppermost and a notch 98 functioning when the opposite side of such record is uppermost.

If the record to be played be a single sided "record, the axial movement of spindle 37 perzontally in bearings 102, 103, carried by pedestals 104, 105, and at one end said shaft 101 carries a Initre wheel 106 which meshes with a mitre wheel 107 keyed to the arbour 96. At its opposite end, the shaft 101 carries another mitre wheel 108v that meshes with a mitre wheel 109 carried by a horizontalarhour 110 and having rotatable therewith a pinion 111 which meshes with rack teeth 112 formed on the foot of the pillar 36. Thus the rotation of the selector disc 95 is effected by the raising of the hopper 35 containing the records.

The above described apparatus operates in the following manner Assume that the hopper 35 is in its lowermost position, that it is filled with doublesided records, that no record is on the turntable, and that the turntable is at rest.

At a suitable place on the casing of the machine there is a fixed index 113 (Fig. 2) bearing the word.Start, and with this indeX 113 a mark 114 borne by the cam plate 43 should register before the apparatus is put into operation. If the mark and index do not register the forked arm 38 may be oscillated by hand within its full limits of travel to cause the cam plate 43 to revolve until the marks are in registration.

Although not so shown in the drawings (for purposes of clearness) the normal or starting position of the forked arm 38 is above-the turntable 1.

The turntable 1- is now set' in motion (by electrical or other appropriate driving means), at which moment the spindle 37 is resting on a solid portion 99 of the selector disc 95 and therefore is supporting, by means of the push rod 85, the needle 92 freely above the turntable; the tone arm 8 and consequently the sector 10 being stationary and the worm wheel 1 9 being driven will cause the arm 22 with its pinion 20' to move round the pinions 12 and 18 thus withdrawing the latch arm 27 from contact with the member 29 on the clutch-ring 6. y

When the clutch mechanism is not in operation the clutch-ring6 is at rest and is prevented from rotating by the contact between two parts referred to hereafter; the

detent 6 occupying a position normal to theflanged edge of the inner clutch member 6. Thus the only revolving parts are the spindle 6 and the inner member 6.

It will be observed that the base of-the detent 6 is curved on one side and this is to enable the detent, when allowed to do so, to move forward.

When the nose 28 is Withdrawn from contact with the, member 29, the clutch-ring 6 tends to revolve with the inner member 6,

owing to the friction induced by the coilspring 6 accommodated in the groove 6, and the face-ofthe slot 6 in ring 6 butts against the detent 6, forcing the outer end of said detent in the direction of rotation and locking the detent against the flanged edge of the inner member 6. The rotary "motion of the inner member 6 is thereby transmitted through the detent 6 to the sleeve 6 and therefore also to the pinion 6 from which i the power is taken off to the spindle 7 by means of pinion 6 thereon.

The clutch mechanism which is of the onerevolution type, thus puts the primary spindle 7 into drivin engagement with the pulley 5, and the splndle 7 is thereby caused to rotate. With the rotation of the spindle 7 the cam plate 58 is set in motion and moves the bar 61 and its rack teeth cause the pinion 63 to rotate and hence also the shaft 37.

This initial angular movement of the spindle 37 carries the forked arm 38 from its position over the turntable through an angle of 120 degrees into a position in which the holders 39,39, face thehopper 35; the holders 39, 39, being presented at the same inclination as that of the record firstly by the contour of the cam groove 44 and secondly by 65 raising the mouth of the uppermost record compartment above the level of the guard plate 73 when the top record imlnedlately commences to slide by gravity out of the hop-,

per; the commencement of movement of the record being so timed. as to take place just prior to the positioning of the holders 39, 39, in front of the hopper. e

The record to be played therefore-slides freely down into the jaws 39, 39, until arrested by the yoke 40. a

Further movement of the cam 58 causes the bar 61 to reverse its direction of movement and thereby to move the s indle 37 so as to return the forked arm 38 into position above the turntable, and when this position is reached the indentation on the cam 76 is presented below the roller 77, the raising of the hopper 35 having already caused the selector disc 95 to rotate until the'first notch 97 is below the spindle 37, whereby the spindle 37 and with it the forked arm 38 are permitted to move axially downward and therebythe record is deposited on to the turntable 1.

The lowermost position of the spindle 37 is so'adjusted that the lower members of the,

37 falls it operatesthe push rod 85 to cause the swan-neck 90 to be moved angularly towards the record until the needle is gently placed in contact therewith. The tone arm 8, in taking up its position with the needle above the initial groove in the record, has simultaneously moved the arm 9 until the pin 24 has contacted with the extension 23 and has pushed the link 25 and with it the nose 28 on latch arm 27 into engagement with the member on clutch-ring 6 whereby the clutch mechanism is thrown out'of action.

In addition, the angular movement into the play position of the forked arm 38 and consequential angular movement of the spindle 37 has caused rotation of the cam plate 43 and groove 44 through 120 degrees thus replacing the profile ab of 120 de-' grees extent by a partially concentric partially inclined profile b-'0 of 120 degrees extent to be traversed by the roller 45 during the next succeeding angular movement of the forked arm 38 away from the turntable.

V The engagement of the needle with the grooves in the record immediately causes the tone arm to commence to move radially inwards of the record and the relative movement of the differential gearing to cease, thereby rendering the clutch mechanism inoperative.

Meanwhile the record continues to rotate until completed. I On completion of the playing of the record the tone arm8 ceases to move inwards, owing to the cessation of the grooves on the record, and the differential gearing re-commences to function causing the spindle 37 to be moved axially upwards carrying with it the forked arm .38 and thereby lifting the record 011' the turntableat which moment the roller 45 commences to traverse the aforesaid profile 12-0 of the cam groove 44. When the roller 45 reaches a point midway between I) and c in groove 44 angular movement is imparted to the bifurcated lever 46 causing the rack rod 54 to be moved thereby rotating the pinion 57 and consequently also rotating the record holders 39, 39, through an angle of 180 degrees while the forked arm 38 is travelling from a position midway between the turn table 1 and its final position in front of the hopper 35. This reverses the record.

During the final stage of this turn the hopper 35 is raised by one tooth through its operating mechanism, and the selector disc 95 is advanced to present notch 98 beneath spindle 37.

Immediately thereafter the forked arm 38 carrying the reversed record holders 39, 39,

is caused by the cam groove 59, the rack (31 and the pinion 63 to return to the position above the turntable and to deposit the record thereon by means of the cam 7 6 and its associated mcchanism already described. At the same-time the forked arm 38 and spindle 37 in this return movement carry with them the ed in the manner and by the mechanism already referred to. 1

On arrival of the forked arni 38 at a position midway between the turntable and the hopper, the roller 45 enters the steeply inclined portion of the cam profile c-a which causes the bifurcated lever 46 and its associated mechanism to operate the forked arm 38 so as to rotate the record holders 39, 39, upwardly again reversing the second time played record, and then incline the holders downwardly whereupon the record slides by gravity into the hopper 35. Thus it will be apparent that the forked arm 38 only rotates in a horizontal plane, as the spindle 37 rotates, and it moves'in a vertical plane when the spindle 37 is displaced longitudinally or axially.

After the record has been ejected the forked arm 38 is moved over the turntable 1 with the holders 39, 39, still at the eject inclination, the solid portion 99 of the selector plate 95 being now below the spindle 37 so that nomechanism is put into train by this movement, but the cam 43 has-been turned through d'egrees thus presenting the profile a-b to the roller 45 as the forked arm 38 begins to return towards the hopper. When this return of the forked arm 38 commences the cycle of operations recommences therewith and is repeated automatically until all of the records to be played are exrecord to be played is single-sided, an ob-.

turator 100 is slid over the notch 98 appro= priate to that record which will support the spindle 37 when the selector disc moves that notch beneath it.

The effect of this is that after the record has been played it is turned exactly as in a double-sided record but is not deposited on the turntable so that the-tone arm remains stationary and the differential gearing continues to function causing the forked arm 38 to return to the hopper and eject the record thereinto.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for playing automatically :1 series of gramophone records comprising a turntable, a container for records to be played, said container being located adjacent to said turntable, a carrier device to receive individual records from said container and to transport each in turn to and deposit it on and subsequently remove it from said turntable, means associated with said car-- rier device for reversing the record within said carr er devlce lmmediately after one side thereofhas been played, means to cause said carrier device to replace a reversed record at once upon! the turntable, a container for played records, means to cause said carrier device to deliver played records to the latter container, a tone arm associated with said turntable, a needle carried by said tone arm, and means for manipulating said tone arm and the needle consistently with said cycle of operations.

2. Apparatus for playing automatically a series of gramophone records comprising a continuously rotating gramophone turntable, a record container adjacent to said turntable,

said container being adapted to deliver to said iturntable individual records to be played, a tone arm associated with said turntable, a needle carried by said tone arm, a record carrier device, means controlled by said tone arm intermittently moving said carrier device into position to receive individual records from said container and to cause said carrier device to transport such records successively to and deposit same on and subsequently remove them from" said turntable, means associated with said carrier device to reverse a record within said carrier devlce immediately after one side thereof has been played, means to cause said carrier device to replace a reversed record at once series of gramophone records comprising a continuously rotating gramophone turntable, a container for records adjacent to said turntable, said container being operated intermittently to deliver individual records to be played, a second container, a carrier-dcvice also operated intermittently to receive each record and transport same to and deposit it on and subsequently remove it from said turntable, means associated with said carrier device to reverse a double-sided ree ord within said carrier device immediately after one side thereof has been played, means to cause said carrier device to replace-a reversed record at once upon the turntable,

means to cause said carrier device to deliver played records to said second container, .a

tone arm, a needle carried by said tone arm,

the intermittent operation of said container and said carrier device being controlled by the movement of said tone arm, and means for actuating said tone arm and said needle consistently with said cycle of'operations.

4. In combination with a gramophone, a carrier for transporting a succession of records to and from said gramophone', a spindle supporting said-carrier, means for imparting intermittent angular movement and intermittent axial movement to said carrier to position said carrier device in accordance with successive stages in the cycle of operations, and means co-operatingwith said carrier device to cause a double-sided gramophone record supported thereby to be reversed in order to present the opposite side thereof in playing position.

5. In combination with a gra'mophone, means for playing automatically a series of gramophone records, comprising, an intermittently movable container for records, an intermittently movable carrier co-operating with said container to transport a succession of records to and from said gramop-hone, means co-acting with said carrier device to reverse double-sided records, a tone arm, a needle carried by said tone arm, a diflerential mechanism controlled by the movement of said tone arm and cam-mechanisms and rack mechanisms interposed between said differential mechanism and said container and with the cycle ofoperations performed by the respective elements of the combination.

(5. In combination with a gramophone having a tone arm, a needle carried by said tone arm, and a continuously rotating turntable, an intermittently movable container for records, an intermittently movable carrier cooperating with said container to transport a succession of records froln said container to and from said turntable, said carrier device comprising pivotally mounted jaws, means to incline said jaws, and means to reverse said jaws, a cam mechanism to impart the requisite oscillations to said carrier to position same, a second cam mechanism to impart move ment in a vertical plane to said carrier, clutch mechanism interconnected with said continuously rotating turntable, and differential mechanism controlled by the movement of said gramophone tone arm and serving to control said cam and clutch mechanisms and their associated parts and also to control the position of the gramophone needle.

7. In combination with a gr'amophone, a container for a series of records, a turntable, a carrier device movable relatively to said turntable for transferring a succession of said records from said container to and from said turntable, and means associated with said carrier device; to reverse a double-sided record while. supported by said carrier device immediately after one side of said record has been played in order to bring the opposite side of said record into playing position.

8. The combination with a gramophone drive shaft and a record turntable, of mechanism operably connected to the drive shaft for delivering a reeord-to-the turntable and for reversing and replacing the record on the turntable and removing the same from the turntable;

9. The combination with a gramophone drive shaft and a record turntable, and two magazines, one for unplayed and the other any hand.

for played records, of mechanism for receiving an unplayed record from the magazine and delivering 11: to the turntable, and for reversing and replacing the record on the 5 turntable and removing it from the turntable and delivering the played record to its magazine, said mechanism being operably conneetd to the drive shaft.

10. The combination with agramophone I drive shaft and a record turntable, of mechanism for delivering a record to the turntable and removing the same from the turntable operably connected to the drive shaft, and means, for reversing a record after the record 'has first been played operated from the drive shaft, said delivering mechanism again replacing it upon the turntable.

11. lhe combination with a gramophone drive shaft and a record turntable, of mechanism operably connected to the drive shaft for delivering a record to the turntable and for reversing and replacing the'reeord on the zine, said mechanism being operably connected to the drive shaft, a tone arm carrying a stylus, and means for manipulating said tone arm and stylus consistently with said cycle of operations.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set VIVIAN HOME SEYMER.

an unplayed record from the magazine 

